Team Notes:-The Rangers were defeated by the Los Angeles Kings, 3-2, in overtime tonight at Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, in their season-opening match-up as part of the 2011 Compuware NHL Premiere.
-New York is now 35-36-14 all-time in 85 season-opening games, including a 25-27-9 record in 61 season openers away from Madison Square Garden. The Blueshirts have out-scored their opponents, 243-239, in season openers.
-The Rangers have now posted a record of 2-0-1 all-time in three regular season contests in Europe. New York participated in the inaugural NHL Premiere in Prague, Czech Republic to kick-off the 2008-09 season, having won back-to-back contests against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
-New York registered a 57% face-off winning percentage, having won 34 of 60 face-offs in the contest. Brad Richards led all skaters with an 82% face-off winning percentage (9-11), and Artem Anisimov won a team-high, 10 face-offs (10-20, 50%).
-Three players made their Rangers debut in the contest – Tim Erixon, Brad Richards and Mike Rupp. Erixon was also making his NHL debut.

Player Notes:
-Ryan Callahan notched the Rangers’ first goal of the season with an even strength tally at 15:22 of the first period, while making his debut as the team’s captain. He also led all skaters with a career-high, 11 shots on goal, was credited with three hits, and led all team forwards with 20:30 of ice time. Callahan’s 11 shots were the most by a Ranger since Brendan Shanahan recorded 12 shots on goal on April 4, 2008 vs. the Islanders.
-Henrik Lundqvist stopped 27 of 30 shots, including 12 of 13 in the first period, to capture second star honors. He is now 4-1-1 with a 2.31 goals against average and .920 save percentage in six career season-opening games.
-Marian Gaborik tallied an even strength goal at 10:28 of the third period, and recorded five shots on goal in 17:09 of ice time. He has now registered three points (two goals, one assist) in three season-opening games as a Ranger.
-Brad Richards recorded an assist on Gaborik’s third period goal while making his Rangers debut. He also won nine of 11 face-offs (82%) and registered three shots on goal in 18:00 of ice time. Richards has now tallied six goals and six assists for 12 points in 11 career season-opening games.
-Brandon Dubinsky tallied the primary assist on Gaborik’s third period goal, and won seven of 13 face-off attempts (54%). He has now registered three goals and two assists for five points in five career season-opening games.
-Artem Anisimov recorded the primary assist on Callahan’s first period goal and won a team-high, 10 face-offs in 18:22 of ice time. He has now registered three points (one goal, two assists) in four career regular season contests against Los Angeles.
-Ruslan Fedotenko tallied an assist on Callahan’s first period goal, and logged 17:32 of ice time in the contest.
-Dan Girardi led all skaters with 30:18 of ice time and was credited with a team-high, two blocked shots. It is the fifth time in his career he has surpassed 30:00 of ice time. Last season, Girardi logged 30:00+ of ice time three times, including a career-high, 32:36, on April 3 at Philadelphia.
-Tim Erixon was credited with one hit and one blocked shot in 12:56 of ice time while making his NHL debut.
-Ryan McDonagh logged a career-high, 26:59 of ice time in the contest.
-Michael Del Zotto led the Rangers with four hits and logged 19:12 of ice time.

Team Schedule:
-The Rangers return to action tomorrow, October 8, against the Anaheim Ducks at Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden (1:00 p.m. EST), in their second of two games at the 2011 Compuware NHL Premiere. The contest will be televised live on MSG Network and can be heard on 1050 ESPN Radio or at newyorkrangers.com.
-The Blueshirts are scheduled for a 10:45 a.m. (local time) optional morning skate tomorrow, October 8, at Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.

newyorkrangers.com.

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For those who missed it because they had to work (weak excuse), I think MSG is showing it again at 7.

Ha, I would have been second too, but got caught up in hockey chat with lobby friends….:)

This would have been a perfect night, if only….but I have hope for tomorrow!

Didn’t get to read through whole thread of game, but fyi, whoever said the arena looked like it had empty seats…uh uh….totally full. And did you hear the Potvin whistle and chant? Ah, you can take the Ranger fans out of NY, but you can’t ….well, whatever.

I gotta run. Late here and I got a long day tomorrow, and with more boneheads!!! More report to come….TA! and mama love

1. Surprised at the extent of the doom and gloom on here. No wait, not surprised at all.

2. Pretty lousy first period, but thought if anything, the Rangers edged it the rest of the way through regulation.

3. MDZ looked OK, but he can’t let Richards get to that puck untouched. He knew his mistake immediately.

4. Top line took an age to get going, but some good work late on and great shift by B-Rich on the second goal.

5. I presume Carp and wicky enjoyed Girardi being on the ice for Kopitar’s goal, but not sure how else he could have played it. Forced Williams into a tough pass at least. And on the OT goal, he stopped one pass by going down but the second pass went through him when he was stood up.

6. McDonagh shouldn’t have grabbed with his free arm, but absolute world class dive from Willie Mitchell. Hope he releases his medical records after that one.

7. Building wasn’t full, but not as empty as it might have looked on TV. Loads of people in the lower bowl were late arriving to each period. Just like home…

8. Not sure if it was on the TV coverage, but after the OT goal, Dubi smashed his stick as well as calling the ref a byggutfart, hence the misconduct.

I didnt get to watch but I listened to most of it- love Maloneys commentary as usual- no sugar coating. But yeah wow..Not surprised some people here are doing “their thing”. Lack of offense an inept PP and two late penalties- one in OT which costs them the game. Talk about a continuation..and not of last year…I’m talking about 2005 lol. Oh well. 1 down 81 to go kids. pace yourselves with all that rage and disgust.

He boarded Clifford in the 1st. He didn’t have the puck. He wasn’t injured, but it was a dangerous hit. I think he deserves the fine. I’m glad he wasn’t suspended though, because that would have been a little too much.

Gotcha. Thanks. Im in the process of catching the replay from about mid game and they hardly look enthused out there. Glad to see they were strong on faceoffs today though. Definitely going to have to prepare for Torts to juggle these lines game to game.

The Simpsons avoid cancellation and is renewed for two more seasons. I *illegally* download that show and keep it on my external hdd, but I haven’t watched it since I was in middle school. After 22 seasons, is it still funny??

James, I think he should juggle the lines. I didn’t like Dubinsky on that top line, and I didn’t like Feds on the 2nd line. Step was a ghost, and needs to get a look on the top line, or Boyle and Wolski.